Noisemaker building block



April 24, 1951 JENTZEN 2,550,270

NOISEMAKER BUILDING BLOCK Original Filed July 28, 1943 INVENTOR. GEORGE JENTZEN .APTUNE'Y Patented Apr. '24, 1951 UNITED ":s'rArEs T NOISEMAKERBUILDING BLOCK George Jentzen, North Bergen, N. J.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No. 496,386, July 28, 1943.

7, 1945, Serial No. 603,699

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and usefulgimprovements in toy building blocks and is a substitute for a portion of, the subject matter contained in my original application Serial No. 496,386, filed July -28, 1 943.

More specifically, the present invention pro poses the construction of a toy building block characterized by the fact that it is hollow and contains a noise maker so as to add to its appeal to small children. I

Another object of the present invention proposes ,that at least-one ofthe sides of the building block should be-open in a manner to permit the noises created by the'noise maker to clearly emanate from the interior. of the block.

Still another object of the present invention' proposes a novel arrangement for releasably closingthe openside or sides of the block in a manher to retain the noise maker in .position within theblockand permit it to be ,removed and replaced by differentnoi'se makers, toy gyroscopes, humming tops and other-z-similar articles.

A still further object of the :present invention proposes making the .releasable:closing means for the open side or sides of the block adjustable to accommodate the same to noise makers of diiierent sizes. I

The present invention also proposesto so construct the releasable closing means so that it only closes a part of the open side or sides of the block in a manner so as not to interfere with the passage of the noise from the interior of the v block.

The invention further proposes forming the building blocks of any desired shape or size and of cardboard, paper, fiber, resinous plastic materials, metals, glass or other similar materials and providing the outer faces of the side walls of the block with pictures, letters of the alphabet or other attractive designs having an appeal to children.

It is a further object of the present invention to construct a building block which is simple and durable and which can be manufactured and offered for sale at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the .appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a building block constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. '3 is anenlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. '1 having the cord broken away to reveal underneath constructions.

This application July I Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view taken onthe line "4-4 of Fig. .2.

. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of "the pins shown per 'se.

The toy building block, according to the present invention, includes a hollow block body I0 having the usual side walls .I I and with its top and bottom open. The block body is shown as being in the form of .a cube, but this is by way of illus- ,tration only as it may be of any desired shape rial, metal,.glass"or.any other similar material and the outer faces of .thefside walls mayzbe-iimprinted with pictures of animals, letters of the alphabet orother attractive designs .(not shown), as is generallyknownin *theart to'which the .presentinvention pertains, having: an .appeal to small children. 1 V V Disposed within the hollow of the block body In, thereis axnoisemaker :I2 for making a noise which will emanate from the :open topand bottom of the block body I0 and so add to the appeal which the block will have to children. For the purpose of illustration, the noise maker I2 is shown as being in the form of a bell having a ofthe noise maker in the form of'a bell is not to be considered as limiting, as other forms of noise makers or similar devices may besubstituted for the bell.

Means is provided for partially closing the'open top and bottom of the block body to releasably retain the noise maker I2 in position within the block body In so that it can be removed and replaced by other forms of noise makers or similar devices when desired. The closing means is adjustable so that it may be adjusted to accommodate noise makers of different sizes.

The holding means is characterized by slots I4 extended inwards from the edges of the side walls I I at the open top and bottom of the block body I 0. The slots I4 are provided with opposed aligned pairs of cutouts I5 along the lengths thereof. Pins I6 have pointed shank portions I? within the block body I0 without interfering 1 to sengage the heads I8 from the cutouts |5"* of the slots M with which they are engaged. This action will free the pins IE to be pulled out or pushed in to align the heads with any-other desired pairs of aligned cutouts after which the pins I6 may again be turned :about'the inserted pointed shank portions I! to frictionally reengage the heads l8 with the cutouts [5 with I which the heads are now aligned. When the cords I9 are now reengaged in position, the space between the parts of the cords which extend across the open top and'bottom of the block body will'be increased or decreased, depending on whether the pins I6 were pushed in or pulled out, to agree with the height of the particular noise maker inserted into the hollow of the block body.

While I have illustrated and described the pre-' ferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constrictions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming'within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. r

"Having thus described my invention, what 'I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: I

1.- Ahollow toy building block having an open side'with a noise-maker in'said block, cords tied around saidblock and engaging the ends of said noise-maker holding it in position in saidblock, said block being formed with slots in its side walls through which said cords pass, and means for holding said'cords in various adjusted posi-' 4 tions in said slots, comprising pins having their pointed ends extended into the material of the side walls of said block at the base of said slots, said slots being formed with aligned cutouts on ,..opposite sides thereof, and heads formed on said pins and against which said cords engage and selectively engageable with said cutouts for holding said pins in adjusted positions in said slots.

2. In a toy building block having a hollow block body formed with side walls and an open top and-bottom and containing a noise maker, the

" side walls being formed with slots extended inward from the top and bottom edges thereof, the material of the side walls along opposite sides of said slots being formed with aligned pairs of cutouts, pins having pointed shank portions pressed into the material of the side walls at the bases of said slots and head portions on the outer ends of said shankpor'tions and selectively engageable with the cutouts of said slots to space said head portions at the top and bottom of the block body a distance equal to the height of the contained noise. maker, and cords engaged about the block body and through the outer ends of said slots to engage said head portions to be held with their portions which extend across the open top and bottom of the block body'in engagement with the top and bottom of the noise maker and retain it in position within the block body.

' GEORGE J'ENTZE N.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

Srofe Sept. 20, 1927 

